blowhole
/'blouhoul/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Noun:
- A hole for the escape of gas or air: An opening or vent designed to allow gas or air to be released, often to prevent pressure buildup.
- The spiracle of a cetacean located far back on the skull: The external nostril(s) on the top of the head of whales, dolphins, and porpoises, through which they breathe.
Usage Examples
- Noun:
- The engineers designed a blowhole in the tunnel roof to release trapped air.
- We saw the whale's blowhole spray water into the air as it surfaced.
Advanced Usage
- In geology/volcanology: A hole in ice or rock, especially near the sea, through which water or air is blown out by wave action or pressure.
- The coastal blowhole erupted a geyser of seawater with each powerful wave.
- In metallurgy/glassmaking: A bubble or cavity in metal or glass formed during casting or blowing.
- The flaw in the glass vase was identified as a small blowhole.
Variants and Related Words
- Spiracle (n): A more general biological term for an external respiratory opening, as in some fish, sharks, and cetaceans.
- Vent (n): An opening that allows air, gas, or liquid to pass out of or into a confined space.
- Blowhole venting (n phrase): The process of releasing gas through a blowhole.
Synonyms
- Vent
- Air hole
- Exhaust
- Nostril (specifically for cetaceans)
Related Phrases
- "To come up for a blow": (Cetacean behavior) To surface in order to breathe through the blowhole.
- The pod of dolphins comes up for a blow every few minutes.
Notes on Meaning
- The primary meaning relates to cetaceans (whales, dolphins, porpoises). Their blowhole is a specialized evolutionary adaptation for breathing while swimming.
- The industrial/engineering meaning refers to a safety or functional feature in structures or materials to manage air pressure or gases.
- These two meanings are distinct but share the core concept of an opening for the passage of air.
Noun
- a hole for the escape of gas or air
- the spiracle of a cetacean located far back on the skull